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City Manager
Cape Canaveral, FL
(Population:10,200year round, 3,000 additional residents during season)
Lying on a beautiful but fragile barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Canaveral is a
progressive, livelybeachside community and an idealplaceto live, work and play. It is a short
drive from the Kennedy Space Centerand three major universities. It is also 46 miles almost due
east of Orlando International Airport, 55 miles from Orlando and 70 miles from Disneyworld.
Tampa is 130 miles west,Jacksonville 160 miles north and Miami and Fort Lauderdale 200
miles to the south. The average high temperature varies from 72 degrees Fahrenheit in January
to 91 in July while the average low varies from 50 in January to 73 in August.
In spite of itsidyllic location and many positive attributes, Cape Canaveral is neither a tourist
destination norabusiness hub.At one time, a significant number of NASA contractors occupied
office space in the City but, at the time,the City was anti-growth and anti-business. Now allthe
contractorshave moved to other locationsand the Cityrecognizes it needs to be more balanced
in its outlook. Overall, it is 97% built-out so redevelopment is the primary path to economic
opportunity and growth. Over the past year, the Cityand its residents have been involved in a
visioning process. As many as 200 residents met once each month to redefine their community.
The result was a plan that defined approximately a dozen locationsfor commercial
redevelopment while not materially changing the residential character of the community. The
area is simplyripe forredevelopment. Orlando is moving eastand Highway 528 and Interstate
95provide ready access to the area. Port Canaveral, among the nation’s top twocruise ports and
top 100 busiest cargo ports, is immediately adjacent to the north. Although 7,000 to 8,000
tourists pass through the Port daily, local amenities are very limited and most go elsewhere for
lodging, dining and shopping. The Port is discussingadding a conference center and hotel. The
local schools are both highly rated. Cape View Elementary has been an “A” rated school since
the 2003-2004 school year.Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School has been “A” rated since
2000-2001 and offers an excellent International Baccalaureate program. Housing rangesfrom
the mobile homes to million dollar condominiums.
HISTORY
After an early visit by Ponce de Leon, not a great deal happened in Cape Canaveral until a light
house was completed in 1847. The first inkling of significant development did not occuruntil
the 1920s when a group of retired journalists invested$150,000in property in the northern
section of abarrier island in the Atlantic Ocean east of Orlando. At the time, the other
inhabitants of the area were fishermen, their families, a few retirees, and descendants of Captain
Mills Burnham, the original official lighthouse keeper of the Cape Canaveral lighthouse. When
the Great Depression occurred, the development plans stalledand the developers went bankrupt.
After World War IIone of the original investors and his son, Dickson Brossier,spent $4,500 to
recover some of the original land. Inthe 1950s,Dickson told the Orlando Sentinel Star, "…with
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$4,500 in those daysyou could buy a great deal of property in \[the Cape Canaveral area\], which
then was but a jungle, inhabited by wild animals and mosquitoes."By 1958 the beach area had
grown in population as the Space Program flourished. Residents considered annexing into
Cocoa Beach but, because of its substantialdebts and land taxes being collected, Cape Canaveral
residents preferred to incorporate and to create a city of their own.
COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS
In terms of age, Cape Canaveral’s population isdistributed relatively evenly. Approximately
18%are under the age of 24, 30% are between25 and44, 29%are from 45 to 64, and 23% are
over 65 or older. The median age is 46 years. The median personal income is $35,164 and the
median household income is $50,261.About 10% of the families andthe population are below
thepoverty line. Cape Canaveral’s populationis approximately 95% White,2% Asian, 2%
African American and 1% other. Overall, Hispanics constitute 4% of the population, regardless
of race.One third of the property owners claim homestead exemptions (meaning one third of all
owners have declared the home as their primary residence).
GOVERNMENT
The City follows the Council-Manager form of government with a Mayor and four Council
Members. Allrun at-large and serve staggered three years terms. In November, 2010 and 2011,
two of the Council Members will be up for re-election and in 2012, the Mayor’srace will be
held. Overall the Councilis progressivebut frugal. Historically the elected officials have
adhered to a pay-as-you-gophilosophy and all of its members have the best interestsof the
community at heart. Although they may disagree on some issues, they are direct and honest with
one another and work togetherfairly well. In fact, after discussion, most votes are unanimous.
Cape Canaveral is a full service city although anumber of its services are provided by third
parties through a contractual arrangement. For example, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office
providespolice services; an independent company provides fire and EMSservices; another
contractor provides IT; and water is provided by the City of Cocoa. Cape Canaveral provides the
other governmental functions (including wastewater collection and treatment) with its own staff.
By the standards of most cities, it is a lean government with less than 50 employees -7are in
administration, 5.5in Recreation, 6in Building, 7in Streets, 3in Public Safety and 20 in Public
Works. If the contract police and fire employees were included,the numbers would increase by
30.5FTEs and 16 FTEs respectively. The primary components of the City’sGeneral Fund $8.7
million budget are: Public Safety, $5 million,Transportation $1.9 million, Physical Environment
(garbage collection), $860,000; General Government, $620,000 and almost all the remaining is
in Recreation. The Sewer and Stormwater Enterprise Funds total $3.7 million.
THE OPPORTUNITIES
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First and foremost,redevelopment is the key to Cape Canaveral’s long-run economic well being.
Fortunately, the community has recognized that fact and has undertaken the steps necessary to
prepare for it. Most importantis the community developed vision/planwhich identifies specific
areas of the City for commercial redevelopment.The City also has real opportunities to partner
with Port Canaveralon redevelopment.Second, as with many cities, itsutility infrastructure is
aging and needsrehabilitation. Third, some significant flooding occurred during Tropical Storm
Faye and the City would like totake steps to avoid (or atleast mitigate)potential flooding in the
future. Fourth, the administrative support systems (both automated and manual) need to be
reviewed and upgraded. The elected officials are particularly interested in identifying ways to
reduce expenses. They will strongly support investments in technology and systems that will
pay for themselves and render long run savingsto the City.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City is looking for anaction-oriented and progressivemanager, someone who will recognize
opportunities when they present themselves and seize them. He/she will bevisionaryyet
practical, strong yet flexible, creative yet value administrativesupport systems, optimistic yet
realistic,thoughtful but with a strong sense of urgency,respectful yet candid, people oriented yet
technologically savvy,and team oriented yet able to function independently. The individual will
be a valued advisor to the elected officials–not a “Yes Person,”but someone who will speak
his/her mind at an appropriate timeand place. The ideal candidate will have a proven track
record in finance –particularlyin budgetingand grants -and expense reduction. The individual
will relate well to and understand the needs of the business community. Redevelopmentwill not
be anoun but an action verb to the candidate and one that the individual has used frequently and
successfully in the past. The City is ready to turn the corner. It simply needs an experienced
hand at the helm. The individual will be a strategic thinker and planner. The ideal candidate
will be professional in appearance and demeanor but also friendly and outgoing. He/she will
interact extremely well withthe publicand have excellent people skills. The individual should
be comfortable and capable of relating to people in all walks of life.The next manager will not
spend a great deal of time behind her/his desk but be active and involved in both the residential
and business communities. The ideal candidatewillhave a strong background in local
government management and advanced business practices.The individual will not be at all
comfortable with explanations that suggest it has always been done thisway. Rather, he/she
will question past practicesand understand the application of systems (whether automated or
manual) to improve processes and productivity while reducingexpenses. He/she will also know
and understand comprehensive plans, zoning and mixed use. Finally, the individual will value
feedback and use it as a tool for improvement.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will have at least five years experience as a City Manager or an Assistant
City Manager and have worked in a small, progressive, coastal community.Florida experience
is preferred but not mandatory.The individual is expected to have at least abachelor’s degree
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in business administration, public administration, urban planningor a related field.Individuals
with other particularly strong credentials will be considered.
RESIDENCY
Residency in the community is not required but is strongly desired.
COMPENSATION
The salary range for the City Manager is $90,000to $129,000and benefits are modest.The
Council, as a body,strongly feels it should paya starting salary of less than $100,000.
THE PRIOR CITYMANAGER
The prior City Manager beganhis career with Cape Canaveral in 1981and advanced through the
ranks until hewas promoted to City Manager in 1992. He served in that capacity until leaving in
January.
HOW TO APPLY
Recruit22@cb-asso.com
E-mail your resume to by February 26, 2010.Faxed and mailed
resumes will not be considered.Questions should be directed to Colin Baenziger of Colin
Baenziger & Associates at (561) 707-3537.
THE PROCESS
Applicants will be screened between February 26th and March 29th.The City Council will
select finalists on April 6thand finalist interviews are scheduled for April 16thand 17th.A
selection of the next manageristo be made on April 20th.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Cape Canaveralis an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourageswomen and minorities to
apply. Under the Florida Public Records Act, all applications are subject to disclosure upon
receipt. Veteran’s preference will be awarded under applicable Florida law.
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